Trident announced earlier this month that it does not plan to operate the plant this season and is looking for someone to buy the facility. It prefers that Pacific purchase the facility.

Pacific is seeking guidance from ODOJ in order to prevent a potential antitrust action if it buys the facility. But with the season scheduled to open May 15, time is of the essence, said Occhipinti.

“We don’t want to acquire a plant and then get sued by DOJ,” he said.

If the plant closes, nearly 150 workers will lose their jobs.

Pacific’s concerns over potential antitrust litigation are rooted in recent history.

In 2015, Pacific's attempt to buy Ocean Gold, a whiting processor in Oregon, was derailed when a lawsuit filed by a group of commercial fishermen sought to block the potential purchase of Ocean Gold by Pacific.

The fishermen, represented by attorney Michael Haglund, claimed Pacific’s potential purchase of a majority stake in seafood processor Ocean Gold violated stipulations of an agreement reached in 2012 to settle a class-action suit, thus giving Pacific monopolistic control over the sales and marketing of Ocean Gold products.

Ultimately, Pacific canceled its acquisition plans.

In the current case affecting the Trident plant, Occhipinti said the fishermen are supporting the purchase of the facility by Pacific.

However, ODOJ has been advised that Richard Carroll, who is represented by Haglund, the attorney in the Ocean Gold case, is interested in the plant, said Pacific.

Carroll’s LinkedIn page lists him as the president of Kirkland, Washington-based Pacific Northwest Marine Products. It also shows that he previously worked for Ocean Gold as a vice president.

It is unclear whether Carroll would be able to open the plant in time for this season, but Pacific, in a fact sheet on the deal, claims he would not be able to begin operations.

If no answer is received either way from ODOJ by May 12, it is unclear what will happen.

“If [ODOJ] says nothing at all, I’m not sure what we will do,” said Occhipinti.

Trident announced earlier this month that it does not plan to operate the plant this season and is looking for someone to buy the facility. It prefers that Pacific purchase the facility.

Pacific is seeking guidance from ODOJ in order to prevent a potential antitrust action if it buys the facility. But with the season scheduled to open May 15, time is of the essence, said Occhipinti.

“We don’t want to acquire a plant and then get sued by DOJ,” he said.

If the plant closes, nearly 150 workers will lose their jobs.

Pacific’s concerns over potential antitrust litigation are rooted in recent history.

In 2015, Pacific's attempt to buy Ocean Gold, a whiting processor in Oregon, was derailed when a lawsuit filed by a group of commercial fishermen sought to block the potential purchase of Ocean Gold by Pacific.

The fishermen, represented by attorney Michael Haglund, claimed Pacific’s potential purchase of a majority stake in seafood processor Ocean Gold violated stipulations of an agreement reached in 2012 to settle a class-action suit, thus giving Pacific monopolistic control over the sales and marketing of Ocean Gold products.

Ultimately, Pacific canceled its acquisition plans.

In the current case affecting the Trident plant, Occhipinti said the fishermen are supporting the purchase of the facility by Pacific.

However, ODOJ has been advised that Richard Carroll, who is represented by Haglund, the attorney in the Ocean Gold case, is interested in the plant, said Pacific.

Carroll’s LinkedIn page lists him as the president of Kirkland, Washington-based Pacific Northwest Marine Products. It also shows that he previously worked for Ocean Gold as a vice president.

It is unclear whether Carroll would be able to open the plant in time for this season, but Pacific, in a fact sheet on the deal, claims he would not be able to begin operations.

If no answer is received either way from ODOJ by May 12, it is unclear what will happen.

“If [ODOJ] says nothing at all, I’m not sure what we will do,” said Occhipinti.